Don't buy 'Scrooge' Christmas cards

With Christmas on the horizon it's time to name and shame the least generous charity cards, says Ruth Jackson. Plus, a roundup of other personal finance news.

With Christmas on the horizon it's time to name and shame the least generous charity cards. "With no legislation to control the amount going to charity, companies can give as little as 1%... and still label the card as a charity card," says Hilary Blume of the Charities Advisory Trust in The Guardian. Cards Galore has been given the Trust's Scrooge Award. Of 116 charity cards stocked by the chain, 75 give less than 10% to charity.

If you want to make sure your money is going to good causes, buy your cards direct from a charity or purchase them from Card Aid. It produces Christmas cards for charities to sell direct. A healthy 35%-60% of the price goes to charity.

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Ruth Jackson-Kirby

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings accounts and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.

Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.

Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping, among many other titles both online and offline.